System, intelligent network service engine and method for detecting a fraudulent call using real time fraud management tools

Abstract

A system, intelligent network service engine and method are described than can perform a real time fraud analysis on an originating side of a call stream to determine whether or not a call is a fraudulent call before the call is connected to a called party. In particular, the system includes a switch capable of receiving a call originated by a calling party and an intelligent network service engine capable receiving information (e.g., call origination data) about the call from the switch. The intelligent network service engine (e.g., home location register, service control point, INSight platform) then uses real time fraud management tools to analyze the call origination data to determine whether or not the call has a fraudulent attribute before the call is connected to a called party. The system can be configured as a wired communications network, a wireless communications network and/or an Internet network.

1. A method for detecting a fraudulent call, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving, at an intelligent network service engine, a query about a call originated by a calling party; and  
 preventing the connection of the call at least until a determination can be made as to whether the call has a fraudulent attribute, the determination made by using, at the intelligent network service engine, real time fraud management tools to analyze information within the query.  
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then the method further includes the step of blocking the fraudulent call. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then the method further Includes the step of forwarding the fraudulent call to a network announcement system. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then the method further includes the step of forwarding the fraudulent call to a fraud operator. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising the step of obtaining validation information from the calling party in response to a request from the fraud operator. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then the method further includes the steps of connecting the fraudulent call to the called party and collecting information associated with the ongoing fraudulent call. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein said collected information includes information associated with the calling party and the called party. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then the method further includes the step of Informing the calling party about the fraudulent call. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said intelligent network service engine utilizes information previously received from or stored against a legitimate calling party in determining whether the call has a fraudulent attribute. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said intelligent network service engine need not use information from a legitimate calling party in determining whether the call has a fraudulent attribute. 
     
     
       11. An intelligent network service engine comprising:
 a fraud management system capable of performing real time fraud analysis on an originating side of a call stream to determine whether a call has a fraudulent attribute and preventing the connection of the call to a called a called party until the determination is complete.  
 
     
     
       12. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein said fraud management system includes a controller that uses at least one fraud analysis algorithm to determine whether the call has a fraudulent attribute. 
     
     
       13. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 12 , wherein said at least one fraud analysis algorithm can operate in less than 500 milliseconds to determine whether the call has a fraudulent attribute. 
     
     
       14. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraud management system is capable of blocking the fraudulent call. 
     
     
       15. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraud management system is capable of forwarding the fraudulent call to a network announcement system. 
     
     
       16. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraud management system is capable of forwarding the fraudulent call to a fraud operator. 
     
     
       17. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraud management system is capable of connecting the fraudulent call to the called party and collecting information associated with the ongoing fraudulent call. 
     
     
       18. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraud management system is capable of informing the calling party about the fraudulent call. 
     
     
       19. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is a service control point. 
     
     
       20. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is a home location register. 
     
     
       21. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is an INSight Platform. 
     
     
       22. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraudulent call can be associated with a stolen calling card or a stolen mobile phone. 
     
     
       23. The intelligent network service engine of  claim 11 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said fraudulent call can be part of a focused overload attack on an Internet web site. 
     
     
       24. A system comprising:
 a switch capable of receiving a call originated by a calling party; and  
 an intelligent network service engine capable receiving a query about the call from said switch, and further capable of using real time fraud management tools to analyze information within the query to determine whether the call has a fraudulent attribute and preventing the connection of the call to a called party until the determination is complete.  
 
     
     
       25. The system of  claim 24 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said intelligent network service engine is capable of blocking the fraudulent call. 
     
     
       26. The system of  claim 24 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said intelligent network service engine is capable of forwarding the fraudulent call to a network announcement system. 
     
     
       27. The system of  claim 24 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said intelligent network service engine is capable of forwarding the fraudulent call to a fraud operator. 
     
     
       28. The system of  claim 24 , wherein if the call has a fraudulent attribute then said intelligent network service engine is capable of connecting the fraudulent call to the called party and collecting information associated with the ongoing fraudulent call. 
     
     
       29. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said calling party originates the call using a wired phone, a wireless phone or an Internet device. 
     
     
       30. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is a service control point. 
     
     
       31. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is a home location register. 
     
     
       32. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said intelligent network service engine is an INSight Platform. 
     
     
       33. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said system is a wireless communications network, a wired communications network or an Internet network. 
     
     
       34. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said intelligent network service engine utilizes information previously received from or stored against a legitimate calling party in determining whether the call has a fraudulent attribute. 
     
     
       35. The system of  claim 24 , wherein said intelligent network service engine need not use information from a legitimate calling party in determining whether the call has a fraudulent attribute.